Bird Key Homes For Sale - Sarasota
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Search Bird Key homes for sale & real estate in Sarasota. Located between downtown Sarasota and Lido Key is the exclusive waterfront neighborhood of Bird Key. There are only about 510 fortunate residents that call Bird Key home. The John Ringling Causeway, the new fixed span bridge, allows residents of Bird Key real estate to be just a few minutes away from the attractions and excitement of Downtown Sarasota, the beaches of Lido Key and Longboat Key, as well as the popular destination spot of St. Armands Circle. For information about Bird Key neighborhood properties for sale or to schedule a private home showing, contact your Bird Key real estate experts today. Read more about Bird Key Real Estate.
Real Estate For Sale Bird Key Sarasota
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Bird Key Waterfront Homes For Sale
Bird Key real estate is made up of bay front homes, canal homes and garden (non-waterfront) homes. This is one of the most sought after areas in Sarasota, Florida. You will notice that many of the homes on Bird Key are newer. The island was developed in the 1950's and 1960's yet the area is in such high demand that many of the older Bird Key homes have been torn down to make way for newer ones.
The Bird Key real estate area is much admired by serious boaters. The canal front and bay front homes on the island can accommodate both large yachts and sailboats, and the bay front estates offer unparalleled views of the water and downtown Sarasota. If you're looking for home on the water in Bird Key you should be prepared to spend at a minimum of $1 million as that seems to be around the starting price of a canal home.
Bird Key real estate essentially fall into three categories - Homes on the Bay, Canal homes and Garden (interior, non-waterfront) homes. Garden homes start around $500,000, canal Bird Key homes around $1 million and bay homes start around $2 million.
Homes on the Bay
I have heard it time and time again. I will be driving over the Ringling bridge west towards Lido Key with a potential buyer in the car and hear, "Wow, there are some pretty homes over there." They are of course referring to Bird Key homes. They are usually commenting about the grandiose waterfront homes on the east side of Bird Key along Seagull Lane, East Royal Flamingo, Robin Drive and Meadow Lark Drive. The views from these Bird Key homes overlook Marina Jack's, downtown Sarasota skyline and Sarasota Bay. They are some of the nice waters views that you can find in Sarasota, Florida. The bay front Bird Key homes one the west side include those along Mourning Dove Drive, South Spoonbill Drive, West Royal Flamingo, Bird Key Drive, South & North Warbler Lane and Seagull Lane. These also have amazing water views. The bayfront homes to the west have stunning sunset views over the Sarasota Bay looking towards Lido Key and St. Armands Key. On the south end of the island the bay homes along South Spoonbill Drive and Mourning Dove Drive have amazing water views overlooking the north end of Siesta Key, south end of Lido Key and Big Pass. I challenge anyone to find a Bird Key home on the bay with a bad view
Canal Homes
Bird Key real estate is blessed with wide deep canals that make it easy for boaters to navigate. There are no bridges to worry about so large yachts and sailboats are welcome. The Sarasota Bay and Gulf of Mexico are within a very short boat ride. The water views behind the canal Bird Key homes are pleasant. It is a great place to enjoy your morning coffee as well as a tasty dinner and drink with your family. Imagine jumping on the boat behind your house for a day on the water or a late day cruise to catch the magnificent sunsets.
Canal front homes are on the wide, deep canal that can accommodate large boats. The water views are pleasant but you do look into the back of your neighbor across the canal. With no bridges to navigate around, the canal is a welcoming place for even the largest sailboats and yachts. Homes on the canal start at around $1 million. These homes offer beautiful outdoor spaces that are an extension to your home and with the beautiful weather you can enjoy these spaces year-round.
Garden Homes
These are the non-waterfront Bird Key homes as well. These are great for those looking to get into Bird Key on the lower end of the price spectrum. Garden homes make great investments since they are surrounded by many multi-million dollar waterfront estates.
Bird Key waterfront homes epitomize Florida living. With these properites you have a place for your sailboat, yacht or other boat. The residents are friendly and with the Bird Key Yacht Club, residents never run out of activities. Whether you're looking for a beautiful sunset view from your veranda or a waterfront pool, you can likely find it in Bird Key. There is a reason that residents of this exclusive community call is paradise.
About Bird Key
As far as exclusive addresses go, Bird Key is near the top of the list. In this community where the weather is always warm and the neighbors are friendly, residents get to experience the quintessential waterfront lifestyle every day. Whether you're looking for a primary residence or a home away from home, a home in this community might be just what you're seeking.
Development of Bird Key truly took off during the 1950s when it was decided that the island was the perfect spot to build custom luxury residences. Those early developers were right. With a combination of an ideal climate, gorgeous scenery and convenient access to Sarasota, homes on Bird Key were poised for success. It wasn't long before home buyers were anxious to put down roots in this desirable community.
Despite having been in existence for more than 60 years, Bird Key remains committed to constantly improving the community lifestyle. Improvement projects are always underway. Whether it's the construction of a new trail or the addition of numerous shady trees, Bird Key just keeps getting better with age. It's able to do so thanks to the active Bird Key Homeowners Association. This joint effort between neighborhood homeowners and the property management group that oversees Bird Key is one of the main reasons that home buyers want to live here. The benefits of living in a community where the residents are instrumental in the evolution of the neighborhood are clear. All potential projects are carefully considered to ensure that they will genuinely improve quality of life before they are undertaken.
On Bird Key, residents enjoy a relaxed lifestyle. The center of the social scene is definitely the Bird Key Yacht Club. Membership here is absolutely indispensable, particularly since it comes with reciprocal memberships in a number of other yacht clubs in Florida. Of course, yachting isn't the only thing on the agenda at this club. Tennis, biking and bowling are just the beginning of the other activities. It's possible to participate in a book club, enjoy a gourmet meal with a spectacular view and attend a gallery showing all without leaving the premises. Golfers won't be able to resist membership, either. Yacht club memberships include privileges at the prestigious Laurel Oak Country Club.
Perhaps the biggest perk to choosing Bird Key is the many gorgeous properties found here. Several homes feature unparalleled views of the bay and the Sarasota skyline. Inside, the custom features are simply extraordinary. Soaring ceilings, enormous windows and thoughtful touches are found throughout. Square footage is generous, offering plenty of room for owners of Bird Key homes to enjoy luxurious privacy even with a house full of guests. With gourmet kitchens, expansive walk in closets and home theaters, homes here are definitely designed to delight.
If you're looking for a community where taste and refinement reside, then Bird Key might be for you. However, this neighborhood is more than just an elegant locale. It's also warm and welcoming with a thriving social scene and plenty of friendly neighbors to go with the spectacular views
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the Bird Key school districts?
Elementary - Southside, Middle - Booker Middle, High - Booker High
- What is the closest golf course to Bird Key?
- What is the most expensive home ever sold on Bird Key?
- Where do I go shopping if I lived here?
- Is there a walkable, sandy beach on Bird Key?
- Can I build a house on Bird Key?
- How far is Bird Key from Sarasota Memorial Hospital?
- How far is Bird Key from Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport?
- Will Bird Key accommodate my sailboat?
Bird Key Video
Bird Key Yacht Club
Bird Key Yacht Club is a comprehensive yachting and social club located in a quiet setting on the Sarasota waterfront. It offer boating, waterfront dining with the best views in town, tennis, a fitness center, a full schedule of social events and a wide array of special activities for boaters and non-boaters alike. Golf privileges are provided through an exclusive reciprocal arrangement. Membership hails from throughout the Sarasota area. View their website at Bird Key Yacht Club.
Bird Key Location?
History of Bird Key
In the early 1900's Lindsay Worcester of Cincinnati was vacationing in Florida to recover from an illness. She and her friends took a boat ride to Bird Key for a picnic. She ultimately fell in love with the small island and told her husband that she wanted to spend her final years there. Thomas Worcester, her husband, purchased Bird Key from the state of Florida. Their goal was to build a grandiose waterfront home.
Construction of their new home began around 1911/1912. Worcester added to the 14 acre island by dredging up 30,000 cubic yards of dirt. He also planted trees and other tropical foliage for the island to take shape. Worcester named it New Edzell castle after the ancestral Scottish estate of his wife. The home took 3 years to build at a cost of over $100,000. Unfortunately, Lindsay Worcester died in 1912 prior to the completion of the home.
John Ringling ultimately purchased Bird Key in the 1920's with a plan of building a vacation home for his friend and U.S. President Warren Harding. Unfortunately, that never came to fruition as Harding died in 1923.
Ringling built the Ringling Causeway from the mainland for easy access to Bird Key, St. Armands Circle and Lido Key with plans for houses, restaurants, shopping, hotels and entertainment. This was the first bridge to traverse the Sarasota bay. He even used his own circus elephants to haul timber for the bridge. In the late 1920's the country went into a depression and the real estate market collapsed.
Ringling's sister, Ida Ringling North, moved into the Worcester mansion on Bird Key. In 1936 John Ringling died and bequeathed the island to his sister Ida. She lived there until her death in 1950. Bird Key saw little activity during this time period.
In 1951 Ida's son, John Ringling North, was the President of the Bird Key Development Corporation. They intended on expanding Bird Key to over 300 acres. However, the Sarasota community wasn't excited about the plan. During a contentious public hearing, State Representative James Haley asked the Ringling group's attorney, "Why don't you go back to New York and run your own business?" After several modifications and a number of hearings, votes and court actions, the Ringling proposal was shelved.
In 1959 Arvida purchased Bird Key. The approved plat included 511 lots, 291 of which are bay or canal front properties, and 220 of which are landlocked (now called "garden homes"). Lots were priced from, $9,000 to $32,000 and sold quickly.
If you are searching for a luxurious waterfront similar to Bird Key homes you should also explore Lido Key, Casey Key, Siesta Key and Longboat Key as well.
Bird Key Community Highlights
- This Sarasota neighborhood features 510 gated, single-family residences
- This is a true boater’s paradise, with over 300 homes being waterfront properties with docks and water entrances
- Located just minutes from the excitement of downtown Sarasota as well from the boutiques and dining found at St. Armand’s Circle
- Known for its private, newly renovated Bird Key Yacht Club
- Popular attractions in the area include the Mote Marine Aquarium, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the Baywalk Sanctuary and more
Bird Key Information Resources
- Must See Sarasota - Bird Key, FL
- Bird Key, FL - Wikipedia
- Things To Do in Bird Key
- Bird Key Yacht Club
Communities
Sarasota | Bradenton |
Anna Maria Island | Longboat Key |
Siesta Key | Lido Key |
St. Armands Circle | Bird Key |
Casey Key | Downtown Sarasota |
Lakewood Ranch | West of Trail |
Palmer Ranch | St. Petersburg |
Lifestyles
Suburbs | Condo Living |
Luxury Properties | Gated Communities |
Beach Condos | Downtown Living |
Waterfront | Golf & Tennis |
Barrier Islands | Master Planned Communities |
55+ Communities | Acreage |
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Listing data comes from My Florida Regional MLS DBA Stellar MLS.
Listing information last updated on January 16th, 2021 at 9:48pm EST.